By Mr. Edicard Kite. 163 



Peace, and all the King's officers within the Borough as well as 

 the Burgesses and inhabitants, setting forth that whereas the Mayor 

 and Burgesses by ancient custom, and by divers grants and confir- 

 mations of sundry the Kings of England, have and enjoy, among 

 other privileges, a Giiild of Merchants, and whereas the King (James 

 I.) by Letters Patent, bearing date at Westminster, July 10th, in 

 the 3rd year of his reign, hath not only confirmed to them their 

 former privileges, but granted them power to make new ones from 

 time to time. At a general assembly held in the Guildhall, June 

 17th, 1614, it is ordained that the Guild of Merchants shall be 

 divided into three several fraternities, companies, or fellowships, 

 whereof the first shall be called The Fraternity of the Drajwrs, the 

 second. The Fraternity of the Mercers, and the third. The Fraternity 

 of the Leather sellers of the Borough of Devizes ; and that persons 

 exercising the trades of clothiers, weavers, woollen-drapers, tailors, 

 hosiers, fullers, shearmen, spinsters, coopers, carpenters, masons, 

 tilers, joiners, cutlers, smiths, and ironmen within the Borough, 

 shall, before the 1st of November next, require their freedom of the 

 said Company, and require their names to be entered in the Book of 

 Admissions of apprentices and freemen thereof, by the clerk ap- 

 pointed for the purpose, and also in the Book of Admissions of ap- 

 prentices and freemen of the Borough remaining in the custody of 

 the Town-clerk ; and all such persons as have served, or shall serve, 

 seven years as an apprentice with any of the Fraternity, the same 

 only shall from time to time for ever be reputed as belonging 

 thereto. And that the Company shall have power to choose from 

 among themselves annually, on the 5th of November, a Master and 

 two Wardens, who shall enquire into and correct all defaults, de- 

 ceits, falsities, trespasses, and misdemeanors committed by any of 

 the brethren concerning either of the aforesaid trades. And the 

 Hall of the Mayor and Burgesses called the Weaver's Hall, sluill 

 be used for all public meetings of the Fraternity. And for the 

 better execution of the premises, the Mayor and Burgesses appoint 

 Edward Northcy to be Master, and Robert Flower and Alexander 

 Webbis Ward(!nM, \\n\'\\ the 5th November followinii-. 



